I’m sure you’ve seen some form of it… I think by now we all have. Maybe it happened at your friend’s wedding, or you might have seen photos of it happening online somewhere.

Pictures of some form of this are among the most unforgettable images we see across the wide spectrum of images snapped during a wedding – it adds fantasy and fun to this already emotionally magical moment, and it can be the key to one seriously amazing exit shot.

What is it? It’s whatever your guests are going to throw at you, blow at you, wave over you, or float in your general direction as you and your new sidekick-for-life exit the site of your ceremony. And you have some options here, so choose wisely! One quick note of advice before we begin: be sure to check with your venue about any restrictions they may have before you fall in love with any one choice. Depending on the site, rice, and even bubbles, might not be among your options! Ok, let’s begin…

RICE ~ Here’s the widely disputed 411: it has been rumored for quite some time that uncooked rice is a serious health hazard to birds. The belief is that when the rice mixes with liquids in the bird’s stomach, it expands and the bird perishes as a result. That sounds HORRIBLE and I doubt any of you want to hurt a helpless little birdie. Well, the current understanding is that this is nothing but a rumor, and that rice is perfectly safe for any wildlife attending your ceremony. But don’t celebrate yet; many venues do not allow guests to throw rice, so you should check with your venue before making any decisions.

Even though it seems that the death-by-rice rumor has been debunked, that doesn’t mean it’s safe for your face. So if this bird thing is in fact a rumor, I’d suspect it was started by a very smart engaged couple who were just trying to avoid this:

So, let’s say you’ve ditched the rice but still really like the pellet-pitching approach? How about supplying the post-ceremony line-up with birdseed? It’s undoubtedly bird-friendly, and still gives you the all-important feeling of tradition that so many of us seek for our nuptials. And if you want to take it really far, you could celebrate birds and make it a wedding theme of sorts! Here are some absolutely darling ways to bring out the birds on your big day (I simply couldn’t choose just a few, so here’s a shot of nine ideas I loooove:

ROSE PETALS ~ Maybe you’ve chosen to go with rose petals. A lovely and much softer, gentler choice, both on the environment and your decolletage. (Who wants to pick rice from within their bosom?) Those rank among the major pros of choosing to provide your guests with a handful of rose petals to toss over you as you make your exit. Here’s a small con of which you may not have been aware: someone has to sweep it all up, and your venue might charge you for that service. Not awesome. But if you’re ok with that, I’m ok with that… because when I look at this absolutely magical photo from one of the most elegant and beautiful weddings I’ve seen out there in the ether, any cost seems justified…

SPARKLERS ~ Oooohh I love sparklers. One of those guaranteed WoW factors. How naive I once was to have thought their only purpose was to bring in the New Year! Ever since I first saw these bright light beauties being held high, flanking the exit path of a thrilled bride and her groom as they exited their ceremony site, they have held a special place in the wedding-planning chamber of my heart.

Pros: they are a ridiculously good time, they shimmer and shine, they guarantee an AH-MAZING photo, and they make people smile.

Cons: although I’ve never heard of an accident involving sparkler use, they do seem a tad dangerous. I don’t know for sure, it’s just a feeling. Anything that gets lit has to be a little bit dangerous, no? (And that works for both lit objects and lit people.)

BUBBLES: I love bubbles! Here’s what’s great about them: they are light, low-impact (who has ever gotten hurt by a bubble in the face?), rainbow-colored floating spheres that take us back to a time when we were kids at play. WHAT IS BETTER THAN THAT? Not much.